Antibiofilm Activity of Ethanolic Extracts from Nypa fruticans and Pleurotus ostreatus against Produced Water Biofilm

Introduction: Microorganisms adhere to various surfaces by means of biofilms which make them resistant to antibiotic treatment. The antibiofilm activity of the ethanolic extracts from Nypa fruticans and Pleurotus ostreatus were tested against biofilm attached on Polyvinylchloride (PVC) slides, using produced water as aqueous medium.

Methods: Ten (10 g) of dry powder from dried N. fruticans and P. ostreatus was extracted with 50% ethanol (100 ml) using a shaker. Five (5 ml) of ethanolic extract was introduced into each test conical flask and biofilm was allowed to stand for two (2) hours and the PVC slides are removed for biofilm examination. Biofilm mass assessment was carried out by direct comparison of mass of samples (before extract application) and test samples (after extract application). Biofilm protein constituent was assessed using the Modified Lowry method while the polysaccharide constituent was assessed using the phenol-sulphuric acid method. Agar well diffusion assay was utilized in assessing the susceptibility of biofilm microorganisms.

Results: Staphylococcus spp was highly susceptible to extract from Nypa fruticans with zone of inhibition of 16mm. Polysaccharide content was highly denatured by N. fruticans extract with a reduction in polysaccharide content of 60% when compared with polysaccharide constituent before application of extracts. The use of both extracts showed more effectiveness in reducing 65% of the biofilm mass. Analysis of variance revealed that the difference between mass of biofilms on PVC slides before application of extract and mass of biofilm on PVC slides after application is significant (P= 0.05).­

Conclusion: Ethanolic extracts from N. fruticans and P. ostreatus could be considered in the control of biofilms and the utilization of more than a single extract will be more potent.